TORRINGTON -- If there was any doubt there is a Santa Claus just ask the hundreds of children that waited in the cold for up to five hours to see him at Christmas Village on Sunday.

Christmas Village opened for its 64th year and didn't disappoint.

Isaac D'Agostino and his five-year old son Anthony finally got to the front of the line and were the first ones standing outside the door that led into the magical room to visit Santa.

Suddenly the bells rang and the door opened to the magical room. The lights were twinkling, snowflake bubbles falling from up top, a brilliantly decorated Christmas tree, a roaring fire -- and a regal Santa sitting on his throne.

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"I've been coming for about 35 years now," Isaac said. "I started coming to Christmas Village when I was his age." Isaac said pointing to his little boy.

Just before visiting with Santa, children had an opportunity to mail their carefully written letters to him in the special Santa mailbox.

One by one the children climbed onto Santa's lap and told him what they wanted for Christmas. Popular requests were electronics like XBox games, Nintendo and iPods, and for lots of girls, an old favorite, Barbie.

In her letter to Santa, eleven-year-old Ashley Corcoran from Burlington wrote a heartfelt message for others. She wished that Christmas for the kids that don't have what we have, will have health and happiness.

Everyone was happy to see Santa's reindeer. Rudolph had his own special pen, a little house with his name painted in gold.

It wasn't too long ago there was a moratorium on Santa's reindeer until Santa petitioned the state of Connecticut to let his reindeer come back to Christmas Village.

"I made the special trip to Connecticut in 2007," Santa said. "With the help of State Senator Andrew Roraback we succeeded and my reindeer came back in 2008. Rudolph was very sad the year we were away."

To open the day, the master of ceremonies was former Mayor of Torrington, Mike Conway. Joining him were other dignitaries such as State Representative Michelle Cook, and Mayor Ryan Bingham.

Leo Liddle of the Leo Liddle Band was presented a painting by artist Joe Koplar to thank him for his 50 years of service in Torrington.

Christmas Village started in 1948 when Carl Bozenski, Torrington's Parks and Recreation Supervisor, was frustrated with the commercialization of Christmas, so he decided to invite Santa and Mrs. Claus, the reindeer, elves, and all of his helpers to give the town a special Christmas that year.Since then, thousands of people of all ages spend time at the magical village while Santa sits on his throne in a tinsel-decorated parlor, and gives each of the children a toy. More than 20,000 people visited Christmas Village last year.